Harry Greb

Harry Greb (born Edward Henry Greb on June 6, 1894 in Pittsburgh to Pius and Annie Greb; died October 22, 1926) was a boxer. He was World Middleweight boxing Champion from 1923 to 1926 and American Light Heavyweight title holder 1922 - 1923. He fought a recorded 299 times in his 13 year-career, against the best opposition the talent-rich 1920's could provide him, frequently squaring off against and conquered the world of boxing

Greb may have been the greatest fighter, pound-for-pound, who ever lived. Certainly, he was among the top 2 or 3. He combined the speed of Ray Robinson, the durability of Jim Jeffries, the stamina of Henry Armstrong, and the unbridled ferocity of Stanley Ketchel with a will to win unsurpassed in the annals of sport. At his peak, he was unbeatable, defeating virtually every middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight of his generation. A great, great fighter.

He was never in one spot for more than half a second, all my punches were aimed and timed properly but they always wound up hitting empty air. He'd jump in and out, slamming me with a left and whirling me around with his right or the other way around. My arms were plastered with leather and although I jabbed, hooked and crossed, it was like fighting an octopus.

Greb gave me a terrible whipping. My jaw was swollen from the right temple down the cheek, along the chin and part way up the other side. The referee, the ring itself, was full of my blood. If boxing was afflicted with the commission doctors that we have now, the first fight probably would have been stopped and no one would have heard of me today.